First time in Switzerland – Zermatt or Grindelwald
A traveler named Boyznme1 is planning their first trip to Switzerland, arriving in Zurich on May 10 for three nights before heading to Rome. They are considering staying in either Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald to experience the Alps, but are unsure if these destinations are ideal for early May due to weather and available activities.
- Consider staying in Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen for more local exploration and easy access to beautiful village life.
- In early May, some restaurants and hiking trails may be closed due to snow, so check ahead for availability.
- If you're unsure about the weather, Zermatt offers iconic views, but Grindelwald presents more options for day trips and exploration.
- Make use of the Swiss Travel Pass for convenient train travel and access to various mountain excursions.
- Watch travel videos on YouTube to help decide between Zermatt and Grindelwald.
AI-generated summary-
Booked on a cruise out of Rome in May . Would like to experience Switzerland for the first
time beforehand. We will be flying from the US into Zurich arriving May 10 for 3 nights departing by train on the 14th for Rome. Thinking of going straight to the mountains (Lauterbrunnen or Grindenwald).for the 3 nights but still undecided. Is one better to stay somewhere else.. I want to feel like I’m in the ALPS! Is Zermatt something I should consider ? Honestly if early May is not ideal for Switzerland pls let me know and Ill do somethig else.
I’d appreciate all thoughts and opinions on the best way to see the most in the short time I have. Thanks in advance
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Hi Boyznme1,
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
I recommend heading straight to either Grindelwald or Zermatt from Zurich if you wish to make the most of your Swiss Alps experience. Both destinations offer great views of the surrounding mountains. Zermatt has the iconic Matterhorn but if you stay in Grindelwald, you can explore the beautiful Jungfrau region including Lauterbrunnen and Wengen. Check out the following links and decide which destination suit your interest best.
- Zermatt: http://www.myswissalps.com/zermatt/activities
- Grindelwald: www,myswissalps.com/grindelwald/activities
Hope this gets you started.
regards,
Anna
Anna
I’m worried about Grindelwald in early May. Will most restaurants, lifts, cable cars be not working at this time of year. How will the weather be?
Both Grindelwald and Zermatt are great places to feel truly in the mountains! May is actually a bit early as there is still a lot of snow. But this year it is quite warm and the snow might have disappeared early….
Maybe these videos on my YouTube channel can make the decision a little easier:
Zermatt Village: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_nugUi7IEw
Zermatt to Klein Matterhorn Cable Car: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT-CdsYOPdk
Zermatt to Gornergrat train ride: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEZ3trb080I
Grindelwald Village: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ0jLJKQQZ0
Grindelwald to First Cable Car: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_Ytqhqtpuo
Grindelwald Glacier Gorge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c58eNN3wJ7A
I wish you a great trip!
Martin
Hi Boyznme1!
This is a tough question. Zermatt is a beautiful town, with the Matterhorn looming over it and taking the train up to Gornergrat puts you in the middle of the most amazing mountain vistas. I also liked that it is a car free town, as Grindelwald had a fair amount of traffic going through it. But for three night stay, I think Grindelwald (or Wengen, Murren or Lauterbrunnen) offers more to explore in the immediate vicinity. We stayed in Wengen (no cars) and used it as a base to explore the other mountain/valley towns and nearby summits. You can even do a partial day trip to Interlaken if you want to take cruise on Lakes Thun or Brienz. Either place will make you feel like you’re in the Alps, so you can’t lose!
Hi Boyznme1,
May temperatures are generally quite cool still, depending on your choice of activity, the weather may or may not affect your trip.
There maybe some restaurants closed and hiking trails will also be limited, if not closed due to the amount of snow. You can check if a mountain trip is possible via this link, here you will be able to peruse the many mountains in Switzerland.
I hope this helps,
Best wishes,
Yolanda
Hi Boyznme1
I faced the exact same question when I was planning a trip to Switzerland with my husband and one of our grown daughters in 2018, also in May. It was by reading Rick Steves’ book on Switzerland that we decided to go the Lauterbrunnen – Mürren – Wengen area, instead of Zermatt (for 2 – 3 days). What made up my mind is when he wrote that although Zermatt is very beautiful, in the event of rain, there is not that much else to do. If it rains while you are in the Lauterbrunnen area, then Bern is not far for a day visit.
As other persons have commented, May is indeed a bit early because many trails for hiking will still be closed with snow. However, I think there is still enough walking and enjoyment of the cute little villages in May. if you stay in Mürren for example, waking up to the majestic Eiger, Jungfrau and Mönch is absolutely breathtaking! (By the way, there is a quaint tiny village called Gimmelwald, a short walk from Mürren, not to be confused with Grindelwald)
In fact, I have been back twice (this time late June), to hike for 2 weeks each time, around the Mürren-Lauterbrunnen area. I personally find that it is a hidden jewel on this planet!
Good luck planning, and wishing you a fantastic trip!
Monica (from Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Thanks Monica I am going to try it. … I have decided to stay in Grindelwald for 2 nights and 2 nights in Lucerne. Just hoping for nice weather.
We will keep our fingers crossed that you have great weather!
Have a safe and wonderful trip!
Monica
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